MORE THAN 1,200 MEN ARE WORKING ROUND THE CLOCK IN MILAN, ITALY, TO PROVIDE THE CITY WITH AN UNDERGROUND RAILWAY SYSTEM, AN AMBITION FOR FIFTY YEARS. NEARING COMPLETION, THE RAILWAY WILL, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A SMALL SYSTEM IN ROME, BE THE FIRST UNDERGROUND IN ITALY, AND WILL RUN FOR TWELVE AND A HALF KILOMETRES.

THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY DOUMO (CATHEDRAL) WITH ITS PINNACLES AND SPORES TOPPED BY SAINTS AND ANGELS, STANDING IN THE PIAZZA DEL DUOMO IN THE GEOGRAPHICAL CENTRE OF THE CITY HAS FOR SOME MONTHS LOOKED DOWN ON A HUGE HOLE IN THE GROUND IN WHICH WORKMEN ARE BUILDING A STATION FOR THE RAILWAY. THE STATION, ON THREE FLOORS WITH SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS, IS EXPECTED TO BE OPEN SOON AFTER CHRISTMAS.

FEARS WERE EXPRESSED THAT THE BUILDINGS FRINGING THE SQUARE WOULD COLLAPSE, BUT THE DIRECTOR OF THE UNDERGROUND PROJECT, GIULIO LUCCIO HAS STRESSED THAT EXTENSIVE REINFORCING WAS CARRIED OUT.